Syrian government forces capture four villages from US-backed militants

The Syrian Arab Army has captured at least four villages from the US-backed Kurdish-led militias on Sunday, according to state media reports. All the locations were under control of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The villages are located on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River to the north of the city of Deir Ez-Zor. Earlier on Sunday, the SDF confirmed that it was engaged in “heavy clashes” with Syrian government forces on the outskirts of the village of Janin. The SDF later claimed that it had retaken all the points from the Syrian Army, driving it “far away” from the villages, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the militants.